Sports Briefing

Published: September 13, 2003

GOLF

U.S. Cuts Into Solheim Deficit

Beth Daniel and Juli Inkster lived up to their Hall of Fame credentials by beating Europe's best tandem in a match that turned the United States' fortunes yesterday at the Solheim Cup in Loddekopinge, Sweden.

Daniel and Inkster birdied four of the last seven holes for a 1-up victory over Annika Sorenstam and Carin Koch, a European pairing that had never lost. As the sun set over the Straits of Oresund, Rosie Jones and Michele Redman rallied for a 2-up victory and trimmed Europe's lead after the first day to 4 1/2-3 1/2.

Lewis Leads John Deere Classic

J.L. Lewis turned soft greens and fairways into a second straight 65 yesterday and held a two-stroke lead in the second round of the rain-soaked John Deere Classic in Silvis, Ill. Several groups were still on the course when play was suspended for the day. Jonathan Byrd shot a 67 and was second at 10 under. Vijay Singh was another two strokes back in third after a 68.

Smyth Stays Dry, Ties for Lead

Des Smyth beat the rain in the opening round of the Constellation Energy Classic yesterday in Hunt Valley, Md., shooting a five-under 67 to share a two-stroke lead of the Champions Tour event with Larry Nelson and Jay Sigel. Theylead by two strokes

COLLEGES

Baylor's Sloan Survives Vote

Baylor University's Board of Regents voted yesterday to keep Robert Sloan as president after faculty members urged his ouster in a no-confidence vote on Tuesday.

Sloan's leadership was questioned after the death of a Baylor basketball player, Patrick Dennehy, the arrest of his former teammate Carlton Dotson on a charge of murdering Dennehy and the ensuing disclosure of major N.C.A.A. violations in the basketball program. Sloan has been president for eight years.

PRO FOOTBALL

Warner Cleared for Backup Role

St. Louis quarterback Kurt Warner, who sustained a concussion against the Giants on Sunday, was cleared for backup duty behind Marc Bulger tomorrow against the San Francisco 49ers.

Record Salary for Punter

Todd Sauerbrun, a two-time Pro Bowl performer, became the highest-paid punter in N.F.L. history yesterday, agreeing to a four-season contract extension with the Carolina Panthers that pays $1.5 million a year.

The deal includes a $1.65 million signing bonus, the largest for a punter.

COURTS

Suit Hits Gender Equity Report

A college coaching coalition yesterday sued the General Accounting Office, the investigative arm of Congress, saying its review of gender equity in sports understates cuts in men's teams.

The coalition, the College Sports Council, contends that the G.A.O. used flawed data in its 2001 report on the growth and elimination of teams for men and women.

That is significant, the council said, because the report has been central to the Education Department's enforcement of Title IX, the law barring sex discrimination at colleges receiving federal money. A G.A.O. spokesman said the office had no comment. The suit in federal District Court in Washington seeks to have the report rescinded.

AUTO RACING

Newman Sets Another Record

Ryan Newman broke the track record while winning the pole at New Hampshire International Speedway yesterday. The pole for tomorrow's Sylvania 300 was his Winston Cup series-high seventh this season. Newman turned a fast lap of 133.357 miles an hour on the 1.058-mile oval, breaking his year-old mark of 132.241.

PRO BASKETBALL

Bryant Hearing Debated

Kobe Bryant's lawyers asked a judge yesterday to close next month's preliminary hearing, saying publicity would threaten Bryant's right to a fair trial on a rape charge in Colorado.

Photo: Beth Daniel, chipping out of a bunker at the Solheim Cup, teamed with Juli Inkster for a momentum-turning victory for the U.S. (Photo by Agence France-Presse)